14 Oct, 2008
Cambodian couple cuts home in half | |
An estranged couple in Cambodia has sawn their house in half. Moeun Rim and his wife, Nhanh, who have been married nearly 40 years, split the building last week following an argument, local officials said. Mr. Rim has removed his share of the property and the couple has also divided their land into four parts; two for their children, and two for them. | |
(To view the full story, visit BBC.com)
Gimme My Share!
What the Bible says about getting what is rightfully "ours"
Philippians 2:3-8
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)
What does God's Story scripture teach us about getting what "we deserve"?
Do you remember riding in the back seat of a car with a sibling when you were little? Do you remember drawing an imaginary line down the middle of the seat that could not be crossed? Many of us have done this to stop arguments and formally declare what space was ours!
This Cambodian couple has taken that same immature and selfish behavior to a new level...and it's not one that is really worth imitating.
Today's passage, however, gives us a model that IS worth imitating. In the NIV, it says that your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. The model He gave us to follow was one of servanthood. It was one that put other's needs ahead of His own. It was one that let go of any "rights" he had for the sake of you and me.
He was God! If anyone had "rights" to anything good, it was Him! You and I, on the other hand, deserve death because we are sinful. Rom.6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.
Jesus put us first and considered our needs as more important than His own. Because of this, the death we truly deserve has been exchanged for the best gift that can be given...a personal and eternal relationship with God Himself!
How does God's Story scripture connect with my story?
- Stop and thank God for considering your needs above His own...which made it possible for you to receive forgiveness and life eternal.
- Ask God to inspect your heart to see if you are spending more time putting your needs first or the needs of others...be honest before Him.
- Then ask God to help you grow in this area of serving others before yourself. It won't happen on your own. You will definitely need His help...and He is able to turn the attitude of "gimme my share" to "how can I share?"
How can we connect today's story, God's story and my story with others?
- Start looking for opportunities to put others before yourself. It could mean going to the end of the line for food, giving up your seat in a crowded room so that someone else can sit, donating some clothes to a ministry that distributes those items to people who have much less or giving of your time to help someone.
- Are you ready for a really tough challenge? The next time someone treats you poorly...look for a way to serve them! Yes, you read that right...serve your enemies! Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:43-48 that even unbelievers do nice things for their friends...anyone can do that! But instead He instructed us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
- Once you start doing the 2 suggestions above, people will wonder what you have that they don't...and this will open up many opportunities to share about how God lives in you!
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